Independent participatory media for Iran

Iran’s minister of transportation and urban development announced that Iran has purchased six passenger airplanes.

The Mehr News Agency reports that Abbas Akhondi also said that the purchase of another three airplanes is in the works.

The minister added that sanctions on Iran and a shortage of airplanes are at the root of flight delays and similar problems, emphasizing that: “Flight safety is the priority of the ministry of transportation.” He then added that Iran intends to revitalize the country’s airline fleet.

Iran has been under strict U.S. sanctions since 1979 and cannot buy any airplane that has more than 10 percent American parts.

Official reports put the age of the Iranian air fleet at around 20 years, and the industry has only 15 public and private companies running more than 120 airplanes.

The U.S., the largest producer of passenger airplanes, has a monopoly on the sale and supply of many airplane parts.